Dead Animal & Removal

In this Article

Dead Animal Inspection

Dead animals usually give off a specific odor that you simply cannot ignore. Decomposing flesh and the chemicals inside the carcass of a dead animal can leave behind residue that simple household cleaners cannot remove. Trained wildlife service professionals in the business of removing both live and expired animals will know how to get rid of dead animal odors and smells.

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Dead Animal Dangers

Be advised that dead animals may have maggots or flies living inside of them, as well as they can be carriers or infectious diseases. There's no way of telling just exactly what is inside of the carcass, so take extreme care if you decide to remove it yourself. We always recommend allowing a licensed and insured wildlife removal specialist handle this task because they will have the proper safety gear and sanitation equipment to clean up after the carcass has been removed.

Dead Animals Inside the Home

Animals we often find dead in our home do not die of natural causes. They usually find themselves lost in attic space and fall down a wall, so that you can call a wildlife specialist to help with removing a dead animal from the wall, and I don't mean helping you locate your mounted elk head to a different stud on the other side of the room. They can also get stuck in air vents and starve, find themselves locked inside the attic with no way out, or become badly burned by choosing to live inside the chimney when it's cold outside. Either way, they are going to create some serious stink and should be removed immediately.

Animals Found Dead in the Attic

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While most procedures for removing dead animals are the same, removing dead animals from the attic will come with extra work once the dead animal has been removed, because you probably haven't removed all of it. Decomposing carcasses not only void bowels, but release stomach acids once the organs and skin break down that can breed bacteria, ruin insulation, and make horrifying stains on your ceiling.

Finding Dead Animals in the Chimney

There's good new and bad news with finding and removing dead animals in the chimney. You'll have slightly area to clean and sanitize. The bad news is that you need to thoroughly clean the areas that need cleaning, otherwise the bacteria left behind can radiate into the living room of your home once you light your winter fires.

Dead Animals in the Air Vents and Ductwork

Oh boy, this is the absolute worst place to find a dead animal. The air that you're breathing inside your house ordinarily will go through a single filter as the conditioner pulls in the air inside the house to cool or heat and disperse it throughout the home. The problem with finding dead animals in vents and ducts is that the bacteria-filled air surrounding the carcass is inside the vent and most likely many yards away from the filter. Don't hesitate to have your ducts and vents inspected if you smell an awful odor when your conditioner or fan turns on.

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How to Remove Dead Rats from the House

Rats are interesting little creatures that can go only a short amount of time without food. They are constantly searching for their next bite, and can experience hysteria and a mental condition humans would consider manic if they don't feed regularly. Rats are notoriously without preference when it comes to food, so if you find dead rats in your home and it's not in a trap, you've successfully excluded rats from food sources in your house. Whethere it's in a trap or not, you need to make sure you remove the rat properly and dispose of it according to local law.